Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2026
07:22
Bacteriophage Effectiveness for Biocontrol of Foodborne Pathogens Evaluated via High-Throughput Settings
Published on: August 19, 2021
Clinical aspects of phage therapy
Ryszard Międzybrodzki1, Jan Borysowski, Beata Weber-Dąbrowska
1Bacteriophage Laboratory, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland. mbrodzki@iitd.pan.wroc.pl
Advances in Virus Research
|July 4, 2012
Summary
Phage therapy (PT) offers a promising alternative for treating antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. This study shows PT is effective and safe for patients with chronic, untreatable infections.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Therapeutics
Background:
- Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health threat.
- There is a need for novel treatments for bacterial infections.
- Phage therapy (PT) uses bacteriophages to target specific bacteria, including resistant strains.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the efficacy and safety of phage therapy.
- To evaluate PT outcomes in patients with antibiotic-resistant infections.
- To discuss the procedures and ethical considerations of PT.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 153 patients treated at the Phage Therapy Unit (PTU) in Poland.
- Inclusion of patients with diverse infections resistant to antibiotic therapy.
- Evaluation of clinical results, efficacy, and safety of PT.
Main Results:
- Phage therapy demonstrated good clinical results in a significant number of patients.
- PT was effective in treating chronic bacterial infections that were otherwise untreatable.
- The treatment was generally well-tolerated, indicating a favorable safety profile.
Conclusions:
- Phage therapy is a viable and safe treatment option for specific bacterial infections.
- PT offers a valuable alternative for patients with limited therapeutic choices due to antibiotic resistance.
- The study supports the continued development and application of phage therapy.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:30Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages
Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are specialized viruses that infect bacteria. A key characteristic of phages is their distinctive “head-tail” morphology. A phage begins the infection process (i.e., lytic cycle) by attaching to the outside of a bacterial cell. Attachment is accomplished via proteins in the phage tail that bind to specific receptor proteins on the outer surface of the bacterium. The tail injects the phage’s DNA genome into the bacterial cytoplasm. In the lytic replication...
00:43Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages
In contrast to the lytic cycle, phages infecting bacteria via the lysogenic cycle do not immediately kill their host cell. Instead, they combine their genome with the host genome, allowing the bacteria to replicate the phage DNA along with the bacterial genome. The incorporated copy of the phage genome is called the prophage. Some prophages can re-activate and enter the lytic cycle. This often occurs in response to a perturbation, such as DNA damage, but can also transpire in the absence of...
01:16Viral Replication: Lysogenic Cycle
The lysogenic cycle is a crucial viral replication strategy that allows bacteriophages to persist within host cells without immediately destroying them. This process is primarily observed in temperate phages, such as bacteriophage lambda (λ), which infects Escherichia coli. The cycle allows the viral genome to persist across bacterial generations while keeping host cells viable.Integration of the Viral GenomeUpon infection, bacteriophage lambda attaches to the bacterial surface and injects its...
01:26DNA Bacteriophages
Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria, utilizing their genetic material to hijack host cellular machinery for replication. DNA bacteriophages employ single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genomes. These phages exhibit diverse replication strategies and host interactions, influencing their ecological roles and applications in biotechnology and medicine.ssDNA BacteriophagesssDNA phages, with their small genomes, utilize unique strategies to...
01:29Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics
Microorganisms play a fundamental role in vaccine development, gene therapy, and therapeutic production. Their biological properties are harnessed to advance medicine and public health. Beyond immunization, microorganisms contribute to gut health, antibiotic synthesis, and genetic disease treatment.Live Attenuated and Inactivated VaccinesLive attenuated vaccines, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, utilize weakened forms of pathogens to closely resemble natural infections.
01:20Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle
Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria. Among them, T-even bacteriophages, such as T4, exhibit a well-characterized lytic replication cycle in Escherichia coli (E. coli). This process ensures the rapid proliferation of the virus while ultimately leading to the destruction of the bacterial host.Attachment and DNA InjectionThe infection process begins with the recognition and binding of the T4 phage to the E. coli cell surface. Tail fibers of the phage...